Blind surfers hang ten at Carlsbad clinic

Aurora Ortiz, 71, stands up comfortably on a surfboard Sunday morning to the applause of Darryl Hatheway, left, and with guidance from Sean Hyslop, right. The annual surf camp for sight-impaired youth and adults was held Sunday morning at South Carlsbad (Ponto) Beach. Teams assisted people out into the surf and coached them through riding waves, some of whom had never seen the surf. The event is sponsored by the Swamis Surfing Association, the Encinitas Lions Club and the San Diego Surfing Academy.

Aurora Ortiz, 71, stands up comfortably on a surfboard Sunday morning to the applause of Darryl Hatheway, left, and with guidance from Sean Hyslop, right. The annual surf camp for sight-impaired youth and adults was held Sunday morning at South Carlsbad (Ponto) Beach. Teams assisted people out into the surf and coached them through riding waves, some of whom had never seen the surf. The event is sponsored by the Swamis Surfing Association, the Encinitas Lions Club and the San Diego Surfing Academy.

CARLSBAD  It was an overcast, slightly chilly Sunday morning on the coast, but nothing was going to keep these surfers out of the ocean — not even their blindness.

About 40 participants hit the waves at Carlsbad State Beach from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the 19th surf clinic for the sight impaired. The event was hosted by the Swami's Surfing Association, the Encinitas Lions Club, and the San Diego Surfing Academy. Attendees from 10 to 71 years old, all with some degree of blindness, were able to experience the simple joy of surfing.

Some had been born blind or slowly lost sight to disease. Others, like Scott Leason, 57, lost their vision in terrible incidents.

Leason was working at a Circle K in La Quinta when he was shot in the face by a thief in 1993. The bullet missed his brain but he lost both eyes. Leason, a surfer from Newport Beach, thought he would never ride a wave again. When he first heard of the surf clinic more than a decade ago, Leason thought maybe he could capture a bit of himself that was lost that night.

Malina Gomez, 38, smiles as she catches a wave for the first time. Gomez, who has a prosthetic leg, says she is not particularly athletic but she likes swimming so wanted to try surfing. The annual surf camp for sight-impaired youth and adults was held Sunday morning at South Carlsbad (Ponto) Beach. Teams assisted people out into the surf and coached them through riding waves, some of whom had never seen the surf. The event is sponsored by the Swamis Surfing Association, the Encinitas Lions Club and the San Diego Surfing Academy.

Malina Gomez, 38, smiles as she catches a wave for the first time. Gomez, who has a prosthetic leg, says she is not particularly athletic but she likes swimming so wanted to try surfing. The annual surf camp for sight-impaired youth and adults was held Sunday morning at South Carlsbad (Ponto) Beach. Teams assisted people out into the surf and coached them through riding waves, some of whom had never seen the surf. The event is sponsored by the Swamis Surfing Association, the Encinitas Lions Club and the San Diego Surfing Academy.

“This event most definitely helped me get back to who I was when I was sighted,” he said.

From his first morning back on the board, he was hooked.

“It’s what kind of saved me after being blinded,” he said. “This program and others helped keep me busy and active.”

Leason is now a competitive water-skier and a triathlete.

Most participants were not skilled surfers so more than 100 volunteers were on the beach to help out. Teams of four to five volunteers were assigned to each surfer. As the waves broke, volunteers steered participants into the surf. Some were content to ride to shore on their bellies while others stood in traditional surfer poses.

Aurora Ortiz, 71, stood up on her first try 18 years ago and has attended the event ever since. Over the years, she has developed a couple of rituals before she takes to the waves.

“The board has to be yellow, and I have to stand on the left side,” she said. “They can’t hold my feet and I need a short wet suit.”

Ortiz is mostly blind and partially deaf.

“The ocean is something you have to respect no matter what, whether you’re a veteran or not,” she said. “But at the same time you have this freedom. I have so much gratitude and trust in the people that help us out there.”

Doug Hausman, vice president of the Swami's Surfing Association, said being able to share the gift of surfing is one of the most rewarding experiences.

“It’s exhilarating,” he said. “The natural speed of the waves, the water splashing your face. It’s a terrific experience for everyone involved.”